The day could NOT have been better - for our first of what WILL be many,many more spring and fall Herb Festivals. Our vendors were terrific, we had Rowena Morrell (publicher of "In the Kitchen") do a cooking demonstration - and the weather held out until afternoon. We did close a bit early due to the HEAVY storms that came rolling in - but all in all, we had great feedback, and lots of customers. We bought a rainbarrell for the inn (today in this rain, we could use that 1500 gallon underground tank that I am dreaming of), a worm composing bin is on the way, and lots of great tomato, herb and perennial plants. Bill Bonwell (Stony Mountain Nursery) was here - he is such a great source for water gardens - and has given us LOTS of advice for our pond. My favorite goat lady was here (Gail Hobbs-Page of Caromont Farm) with lots of yummy samples, and I met several other people I know I will be running to again for plants!
A word about my current work-in-progress: I am exploring the possibilities of creating a non-profit educational farm/display gardens/exhibit space...and who knows what else...here on our property. There is such a diverse group of VERY active farmers in this area - all with incredible products, of the highest quality - yet I know they are so busy, they can scarcely take the time to give tours, speeches, and educate people like I know they yearn to be able to do. So - since we are used to having visitors, and we love it, why not take this great, central, easy-to-get-to location and use it for the community? I can see school groups coming during the week to tour the wetland area, demonstration dairy animals, chicken house, (maybe even a windmill/turbine?), I can see our inn guests on the weekends having MUCH to look at and explore, I can envision the Herb/Green festivals here on the grounds, maybe a farmstore/ u-pick berry farm, orchards - the list goes on and on. It is a big project - and I am just starting to wrap my head around the possibilities...and also to explore funding, conservation of the property, setting up a non-profit...all the things I know very little about. I think it may be a good direction to head - and it will end up giving the community of Scottsville a piece of their history preserved and taken care of forever - and available to everyone. I would hate to see this place someday just as a private home. It is so beautiful here, Peter & Jae did so much work to get listed on the National Registry of Historic Places...we want that work to be appreciated way into the future!
Monday, April 28, 2008
Monday, April 21, 2008
this weekend...and more
Getting ready for this Saturday - we are having our first - of what we hope will be - annual Spring Herb Festival. So far, considering it's our first attempt at this, it seems like it will be a wonderful day! A good amount of local vendors, lots of people calling and asking for directions and information...I hope we have at least 100 people turn out...in the fall, we'll do another one, focused a bit more on herb/plant/garden crafts - dried stuff I hope, jams, etc.
Also started plans for a 'Locavore Picnic Dinner'...not sure if I should do it on the 4th of July (it is SUCH a fun, classic, small-town day complete with parade and great fireworks over the river) or a day that won't already be loaded with fun...I am an excellent grill cook, and I love to smoke brisket, ribs, etc - AND we have a couple of wonderful local grass-fed beef producers, and of course Polyface farm is close by, and I get free-range chickens starting in May from a neighbor. I am sure the menu will be good - plenty of local wine and beer too! Maybe a table with community specialties? Giovanni is always cooking something wonderful, and Meredith makes an amazing eggplant dish to eat with fresh bread...the more I think about it, the better it sounds.
Also started plans for a 'Locavore Picnic Dinner'...not sure if I should do it on the 4th of July (it is SUCH a fun, classic, small-town day complete with parade and great fireworks over the river) or a day that won't already be loaded with fun...I am an excellent grill cook, and I love to smoke brisket, ribs, etc - AND we have a couple of wonderful local grass-fed beef producers, and of course Polyface farm is close by, and I get free-range chickens starting in May from a neighbor. I am sure the menu will be good - plenty of local wine and beer too! Maybe a table with community specialties? Giovanni is always cooking something wonderful, and Meredith makes an amazing eggplant dish to eat with fresh bread...the more I think about it, the better it sounds.
a year has passed here already!
It is difficult to believe that already we have been in this heaven for a bit over a year...still every day I look out over the back yard, the vineyard or the pond and I see how beautiful it all is. And how much more beautiful we want to make it...What started as the exact business we always wanted has turned into a whole lot more. This community, this place - I want to make sure that this land - even this little slice of 13 acres - is preserved forever. I want what we add to this landscape to be improvements that will last many lifetimes. There are so many choices: a wind turbine for power (we are on a hill with constant breezes), berry fields, and orchard, a dairy cow, goats, a pony (or 2), rabbits...I don't know where to start. So I just get up and do what is in front of me, or at least the least onerous choice of what's in front of me.
For instance - yesterday we added ducks to our pond. I am hoping for some help in clearing up many years of sccumulated debris and quickly spreading pondweeds...it was amazing how much life they added to what was (I thought) a very nice place already. We have a LOT of pondweeds that need to be brought under control; and we have been planting cattails, iris, and other wetland plants around the edges all spring - mostly to add some color and for filtering the stuff that flows down the hillsides and into the pond. It is springfed; and the little creek that runs out flows for about a half mile, then into a larger creek, then in another 100 yards or so, into the James River. So, we do our best to keep the water clean and chemical free. The fish and frogs are abundant, and now the ducks have added another dimension. True, the water is a bit muddier from their munching, and they aren't picky about what they step on, but eventually I think it will all even out, especially as we take down the weedy saplings that keep dropping leaves into the pond, and replace them with plants better suited (ong term) to such a wet habitat...it looks better now than last summer, and it will look even better in the years to come.
I like sending guests down there in the woods for a walk, and now they have something to sit and watch for a while!
Oh, and we got 2 eggs this morning from them! Add that to our chicken eggs - and breakfast just got even more interesting!
For instance - yesterday we added ducks to our pond. I am hoping for some help in clearing up many years of sccumulated debris and quickly spreading pondweeds...it was amazing how much life they added to what was (I thought) a very nice place already. We have a LOT of pondweeds that need to be brought under control; and we have been planting cattails, iris, and other wetland plants around the edges all spring - mostly to add some color and for filtering the stuff that flows down the hillsides and into the pond. It is springfed; and the little creek that runs out flows for about a half mile, then into a larger creek, then in another 100 yards or so, into the James River. So, we do our best to keep the water clean and chemical free. The fish and frogs are abundant, and now the ducks have added another dimension. True, the water is a bit muddier from their munching, and they aren't picky about what they step on, but eventually I think it will all even out, especially as we take down the weedy saplings that keep dropping leaves into the pond, and replace them with plants better suited (ong term) to such a wet habitat...it looks better now than last summer, and it will look even better in the years to come.
I like sending guests down there in the woods for a walk, and now they have something to sit and watch for a while!
Oh, and we got 2 eggs this morning from them! Add that to our chicken eggs - and breakfast just got even more interesting!
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